Malosa Medical Announces the Release of the Intravitreal Injection Guide

Malosa Medical announced the release of its Intravitreal Injection Guide, which is designed to facilitate these injections while reducing patient discomfort and anxiety. Designed by UK-based ophthalmologist, Salman Waqar, MBBS, FRCOphth, the Intravitreal Injection Guide removes the need for both the drape and speculum as well as standardising the procedure, according to a company news release. In effect, the device allows a higher throughput of procedures by eliminating the time-consuming elements of the manual technique.

The guide consists of a curved, triangular base plate which follows the natural contour of the eye and three studs at each corner which ensure stabilization. The cylindrical chamber adjacent to the lash guard allows the injection to be delivered at the precise location and depth of the eye, avoiding the risk of retinal damage.

Intravitreal injections are used to administer therapeutic agents into the vitreous space of wet age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion and diabetic macular edema patients. However, many patients feel apprehensive about the procedure, particularly due to the surgical drape, which can cause feelings of claustrophobia, while the use of an eyelid speculum can be uncomfortable. From a surgeon’s perspective, the injection requires careful administration and necessitates the individual to accurately measure the point of inoculation as well as the entry depth and angle of the needle manually.

Dr. Waqar designed the device in collaboration with the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation and Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trusts under the South West Peninsula NHS Innovation Pathway. The pathway is intended to support staff to develop their ideas.

“The Trust was delighted to be involved in such an innovative project which will result in great benefit of thousands of patients," Phil Hughes, Medical Director of Plymouth Hospitals, said in the news release.

Director of Strategy and Innovation at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation trust, Ann Wagner, said “We are delighted to have been involved with the development of this device. This project is a perfect example of how we are working in partnership across Devon to make a real difference for our patients and service users.”